World Briefs

November 10, 2006

COLLEGE FOOTBALLPaterno will miss game Joe Paterno declared himself "out" for Penn State's next game Saturday, designating longtime assistant Tom Bradley to make any tough calls in the school's first contest without the coaching icon since 1977. Better make the right decisions, though, Tom: Paterno undoubtedly will be watching. Heeding his doctor's advice, Paterno told his staff Thursday that he would not be at Beaver Stadium for Saturday's game against Temple. The 79-year-old coach had surgery Sunday to repair a fractured shinbone and two torn knee ligaments in his left leg, injuries sustained in a sideline collision in a loss last week to Wisconsin. GOLFTiger seven behind Playing in his first tournament in five weeks, Tiger Woods had a double bogey on his second hole and finished the opening round of the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, seven shots behind leader Jyoti Randhawa. Woods shot an even-par 72 on Thursday. India's Randhawa shot a 65 to take a one-stroke lead over 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand, Scotland's Marc Warren and South Korea's Yang Yong-eun. Creamer's 64 leads LPGA Paula Creamer matched her career best with an 8-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead over Lorena Ochoa and two other players after the first round of The Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions in Mobile, Ala. BASEBALLDrew wants to leave LA Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew opted out of the final three years of his contract Thursday, making him an unrestricted free agent. Drew, who turns 31 on Saturday, hit .283 with 20 homers and 100 RBIs last season -- his second with the Dodgers. He signed a five-year, $55 million contract on Dec. 23, 2004, and had been guaranteed $33 million over the next three years with Los Angeles. Miller back with Cubs Wade Miller, who missed most of last season recovering from shoulder surgery, agreed Thursday to a one-year contract to stay with the Chicago Cubs. The 30-year-old right-hander made five starts at the end of the season for the Cubs, going 0-2 with a 4.57 ERA. He is expected to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation next year. AUTO RACINGSharp joins Rahal IndyCar Series veteran Scott Sharp is joining Rahal Letterman Racing, giving the team a second driver for next season. Sharp will join returning driver Jeff Simmons with Rahal Letterman, which lost Danica Patrick to Andretti Green Racing and has not been able to line up a sponsor for 2004 Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice. Worsham tops Funny Car Del Worsham had a career-best 4.712-second pass Thursday to top Funny Car qualifying for the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Ponoma, Calif. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also led their divisions at Auto Club Raceway. NCAAAthletes' rate looks good College athletes continue to graduate at a higher rate than other students, and female athletes again outperformed their male counterparts, according to data released by the NCAA on Thursday. The latest measurements showed incoming athletes from the freshman class of 1999-2000 held a 2-point advantage, 63 percent to 61 percent, over their peers who did not play sports. Athletes also had a 1 percent overall increase over last year's figures. Federal graduation rates are calculated over a six-year period for each incoming freshman class.